The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. The ATSB is Australia's prime agency for the independent investigation of civil aviation, rail and maritime accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

Aviation safety issues and actions

Recommendation issued to: Airservices Australia

Output text

Safety Recommendation

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that
Airservices Australia review MATS 4.5.2.2 to ensure that separation
between aircraft, established by the use of visual observation of
aircraft position and projected flight paths, is more clearly
defined and consistently applied.

Initial response

Initial response

Date issued:

29 May 2006

Response from:

Airservices Australia

Action status:

Monitor

Response text:

Airservices Australia advised that a working paper discussing
visual separation procedures had been developed.

Airservices will advise any subsequent action in relation to
Manual of Air Traffic Services amendments.

Further correspondence

Further correspondence

Date issued:

08 December 2006

Response from:

Airservices Australia

Response status:

Closed - Accepted

Response text:

Airservices Australia advised that a Manual of Air Traffic
Services (MATS)/Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) request
for change (RFC) had been issued 2 December 2006. The rules in MATS
regarding visual separation can be misinterpreted and in some
circumstances separation is not assured. The intention of the RFC
is to:

clarify the application of visual separation and specifically
the use of projected flight paths

restructure the visual separation rules to differentiate visual
separation by the pilot and the controller

clarify when traffic information needs to be passed

include the use of surveillance systems in identifying aircraft
prior to the application of visual separation.